| Apex Legends | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Release Date | Gameplay & Story | DLC & Pre-Order | Review |
Apex Legends is a live-service battle royale shooter from Respawn Entertainment. Read on to learn about its release date history, what platforms it's available on, and its announcements.
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Apex Legends Release Date
Initially Released on February 4, 2019
Apex Legends was released on February 4, 2019, for PC, PS4, and Xbox One, with no prior marketing or announcements. This unexpected release strategy helped the game quickly gain traction, surpassing one million unique players within hours of its debut.
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 Steam |
 Epic Games |
 PS |
 Xbox |
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| Free to Play | |||||||
Released for the Nintendo Switch on March 9, 2021
A Nintendo Switch version was released by Electronic Arts and Respawn Entertainment on March 9, 2021. It allowed for cross-play with the PC, PS4, and Xbox One, allowing players to play the game on the go.
In January 2026, EA announced that it will discontinue Switch support for Apex Legends on August 4, 2026. Game data can be transferred to Switch 2, as all progress have been saved on the players' individual EA accounts.
Released for the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S on March 29, 2022
Apex Legends for the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S was released on March 29, 2022. It brought the game to higher resolutions and better graphics.
Released for Mobile Devices on May 17, 2022
A mobile port for Apex Legends was released on May 17, 2022. It didn't last long, however, as it had to shut down on May 1, 2023 due to the difficulty the developers encountered in maintaining the game.
Released for the Nintendo Switch 2 on August 5, 2025
A Nintendo Switch 2 version of Apex Legends was released on August 5, 2025, and it comes with improved performance and visual fidelity built for the hybrid console.
All player progress from Switch can be transferred to Switch 2 after EA ceases support for the older device on August 4, 2026.
| Digital Storefronts | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Switch 2 |
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| Free to Play |
Is Apex Legends on Xbox Game Pass?
Apex Legends is a free-to-play game and doesn't need Xbox Game Pass to play.
Is Apex Legends on PS Plus?
Apex Legends is free-to-play and also does not require PS Plus to play online.
Is Apex Legends on Nintendo Switch Online?
No, you don’t need a Nintendo Switch Online membership to play Apex Legends. You can get the game for free as well.
Apex Legends Announcement History
2026
January 30
EA announced that it will no longer support Apex Legends on Nintendo Switch beginning on August 4, 2026.
2025
August 5
Apex Legends released the battle-royale shooter on Nintendo Switch 2 platforms on August 5, 2025.
2023
May 1
The mobile version of Apex Legends was closed down on May 1, 2023 due to factors preventing the developers from maintaining a high-quality experience.
2022
March 29
Apex Legends was brought to the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S on March 29, 2022.
May 17
A mobile version for Apex Legends was released for Android and iOS on May 17, 2022.
2021
March 3
A trailer for Apex Legends’ Nintendo Switch port was uploaded on the game’s official YouTube channel on March 3, 2021. It was released on March 9, 2021.
2019
February 4
Apex Legends was released on February 4, 2019, without any prior marketing. This was a surprise release and helped it gain traction.
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